NOT sleeping through the night

[Erica Cronic]

Blakeleigh is an 8 month, she has always been a great sleeper and slept through the night ever since I brought her home at 8 weeks. She does not sleep in her crate at night. She loves to be on the cold hardwood floors in the bedroom. Over the past month she has gotten where she wakes up several times throughout the night. She will first whine until I wake up, so I will put my hand down off the bed to pet her to let her know I'm right there and then she will continue to whine or bark until I get out of bed. Then she thinks its play time and will bring me toys and I will explain to her that it is not play time, its bed time and I will sit on the floor with her and pet her till she goes back to sleep. She will then go back to sleep for a couple hours and wake up again doing the same thing. Blakeleigh is in her crate from 8-5:30ish throughout the day while I am at work. Once I get home from work we will go for a walk anywhere from 1-2 miles a day and then play and run in the yard until dark, we then go inside and continue to play, so I know she is getting the exercise she needs. We usually stop playing with all toys around 9-9:30 and I will let her start to calm down and just relax and we usually go to bed around 11. She has gotten where she wakes up around 1:30, 4, and 6:15ish, most of the time when she wakes up she is just wanting to play or wants me right beside her. Sometimes I will take her out to see if she needs to go Potty and she will sometimes but other times she just wants to walk around and see what's going on outside. Has anyone ever had their dog get off routine? How did you get back into the routine of sleeping through the night again? Should I start making her sleep in her crate, is there a something I'm doing wrong? Is there something I can give her to relax and sleep? 

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

People generally do not want to play in the middle of the night.  Blakeleigh does not know that, she thinks it is fun.  You are inadvertently reinforcing her by talking to her, sitting with her, petting her until she falls asleep.  It's a great gig for her.  Not so much for you though.

Begin by putting her back in her crate at night to sleep for at least a month.  Get over the guilt.  She is getting plenty of attention from you after work.  Pick a word or two like "sleep" or "quiet'.  Then use that word and that word only, maximum twice if she starts to whine or otherwise ask for attention.  Then roll over and go back to sleep.  SHE WILL STOP this behavior when you stop responding to it.  When you have at least a month of not waking up at night, put her in her crate, but leave the door open so she can sleep where she wants if this is important to you.

It is mentally hard on dog's people to leave their dog in their crate all day, but actually, dogs love their crates.  Crates are like dens and they feel safe and cozy in them.  You are giving her plenty of love and exercise and mental stimulation after you get home.  Tough Love - called tough love because it is tough for you.

[Erica Cronic]

Thank you, she does love her crate. I just have never made her go into it at night due to being in her crate during the day. I will start crating tonight to see if she sleeps better.

[Erica Cronic]

I put Blakeleigh in her crate last night and she slept all night!!! She did wake up around 1:45-2 whining, I ignored her and she went right back to sleep after a few minutes! I am going to continue to put her in her crate for the next couple of nights to see if she still does good.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Yeah!  Keep using the crate at night for a couple of weeks to a month and afterward leave open so she can choose it if she wants.

[Ozzy - Courtney]

I'm glad that the crating again at night is working so far. I would also encourage you to try and find a doggy daycare. My puppy is 11 months and I take him 2 times a week and he loves it. Also, he is always so tired that all he can do when he gets home is eat and go right to sleep. It helps to burn off that endless amount of energy that he seems to have all the time.